A coating is detected on a substantially planar object (9), such as a sheet, which is moving in a predetermined direction. The object has a coating (30) on at least a part of its planar surface, which coating is at least partially transparent to visible radiation. An emitter (33) is adapted to emit a beam of substantially non-visible electromagnetic radiation having a predetermined wavelength range towards the object (9). A scanner (36) is adapted to scan the beam of electromagnetic radiation in a direction that has at least a component transverse to the predetermined direction. A sensor (34) detects radiation in the predetermined wavelength range which is reflected in a specular manner by the object (9). The presence and/or absence of a coating (30) on the object is determined on the basis of the magnitude of specularly reflected radiation.
Legal claims defining the scope of protection, as filed with the USPTO.
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Cooperative Patent Classification codes for this invention. Click any code to explore related patents in that topic.
April 25, 2000
March 19, 2002
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